By: Emma Limor ’21
“The Girl on the Train,” written by Paula Hawkins, is a mysterious and romantic novel set in modern day England.
The book is organized by the perspectives of different major characters.  Each chapter includes the date and time of day, making the book appear as if it is in chronological order.  Despite this, it can be confusing if the reader does not keep track of the timing and which character is talking, as it fluctuates between different characters and times.
One of the main characters of the book is Rachel, a woman who takes the train everyday to and from London.  While on the train, she inserts herself into the world of the people she sees by the tracks.  The train stops at the same place everyday, giving Rachel glances of the lives of the people who live across from the train station. Specifically, she finds pleasure in watching a seemingly ideal couple, wishing she had a similar life.
Everything in her life is routine, until one day it all changes.  The perfect couple that she sees from the train is no longer as perfect as it seems.  After a sudden revelation, she finds a new purpose in her life.  She must help uncover the mystery of why Megan Hipwell, one of the people she sees every time the train halts, disappears.
This book achieves a combination of realism and suspense, which is something rare to find in a romance novel.  With a thrilling plot, the book reels the reader in.  The reader gets to view the world of this book from the outside, as Rachel, the girl on the train, and gets to view the lives of others from the train.  “The Girl on the Train” successfully plays with perspective and timing, which are qualities that add to the success of the book. The age group I think that would most enjoy this book would be teenagers.
 
“The Girl on the Train” can now be seen in movie theaters as well.  Although the movie is rated R, it should be a great depiction of the book, for those who are of age.
Rating: ⅘ stars